BY: Rebina
Why is that during the time of disaster food, water, clothes, medicines and other materials are distributed as a relief material but why is that the sanitary pads are not distributed during disasters or as a disaster response? They are also a relief material for girls and women .
Nepal is frequently affected by floods, landslides and also earthquake and there is access to reliefs materials from different sources or organization but the menstrual hygiene needs of women and girls are overlooked. Lack of access to sanitary pads can create serious challenges for menstruating individuals, affecting their health, dignity, comfort and daily activities.
While other materials are essential and life saving sanitary pads are also essential and life saving to girls and women. Free distribution of sanitary pads can help to strengthen for the use of safe sanitary materials and also prevent infections leading to healthy menstruation.
As an effect of disaster the sanitary pads may not be available in the market and the individuals may be forced to use old clothes, paper or other unsuitable materials which increases the risk of infections and discomfort. Additionally, the stressful environment of the disaster can make menstruation even more difficult and can cause mental health issues.
There are many things to be considered during disaster. When there is distribution of water, food and basic medicines why can’t we add up two packets of sanitary pads as relief material to distribute?
Will it be too costly so as to play with the reproductive health of a women?
Will it be too difficult to manage the sanitary products?
Managing menstruation without proper products and private spaces can be embarrassing and stressful for women and girls. Sanitary products are also the basic things for daily survival. Looking up at the awareness campaigns on menstrual hygiene there should be efforts made available for distribution of the products as well. There are two benefits I see in distributing the sanitary pads.
One is, to the girls and women who are unaware of the pads can get access to the use of pads and they will use frequently and the
Another one is, the individual who use pads regularly can get easy access and to manage during menstruation. So distributing of pads will help in improving the reproductive health of girls and women. So the distribution of pads alongside other relief materials should be done to reduce the stressful situation during the time of disaster.
Menstruation does not stop during disasters. Just as food, water and shelter and medicines are considered essential relief items, sanitary pads should also be recognized as a basic necessity. Distributing sanitary pads is not only about providing a product- it is about ensuring dignity, equality and reproductive health during one of the most vulnerable times in a person’s life.